MZ Tzedek Committee
Newsletter – Spring 2021
Take Action
Contents:
  1. Food for Thought Program on Reparations
  2. Support Post Conviction Relief
  3. Earth Day - April 22nd
  4. Support Rent Stabilization in St. Paul
Welcome from Tzedek Co-Chairs Diana Dean and Vic Rosenthal:
 
This year the Tzedek Committee is prioritizing Racial Justice, Immigrant Justice, and Climate Justice and we invite you to join us as we take action on these issues. Building on our reading and discussion of “Caste”, we now have a chance to learn about the work being done in St. Paul on reparations. Even though not all of us live in St. Paul, Mount Zion of course is there and St. Paul has the opportunity to lead the way for our state. We are partnering with work organized by JCA on immigrant justice and housing justice before the end of the legislative session. And, on climate change, let’s join with Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light for Earth Day on April 22nd.
Racial Justice
Reparations in St. Paul:
An Update and Our Role

A Discussion with Jane Prince, St. Paul City Council, 7th Ward and Trahern Crew, co-chair St. Paul Reparations Steering Committee
Food for Thought before Services, Friday, April 23, 5-6 pm
Co-sponsored by NCJW Minnesota and Mount Zion’s Tzedek Committee



Immigrant Justice
Based on Mount Zion’s 2017 resolution on immigrant justice, we are partnering with JCA has been working hard to support efforts to pass a Post-Conviction Relief bill (HF833 / SF1514) at the State Legislature.

This bill creates a pathway for immigrants and refugees with old convictions that have triggered immigration consequences such as deportation to be reviewed by a judge. This legislation would expand access to post-conviction relief by adding an immigration-related exception to the existing criteria under the two-year time limitation. Under this bill, if someone with an old conviction is facing a deportation order, they would have the opportunity to go to court and see if their conviction was fair and just. We are asking you to reach out to your State representatives and senators to let them know that this bill is important and can help refugees and immigrants remain in the United States. You can find a link to this action here: https://secure.everyaction.com/XNUfJKU98kagF36dtHXVnQ2  For more information and details, contact Diana at dianadean@msn.com.

Climate Justice
Earth Day - April 22, 2021
Sacred Ground: An Earth Day Celebration with MN Interfaith Power and Light
Thursday, April 22, 12:00 - 1:00 pm

Even though we’ll be gathering online again on this Earth Day 2021, we share a Sacred Ground beneath us all. Join us for a special event that will feed your soul and connect you to the sacredness of the earth.

We are especially excited to have Joy Persall as our keynote speaker! Joy is a woman of Ojibwe Metis’ descent, a mother, grandmother, gardener, and seed keeper.

You can learn more here!
Housing Justice
Support Rent Stabilization in St. Paul

Here is a link to the letter.
 
For more information and to participate: Email vic.rosenthal@gmail.com.
Check out all Tzedek history and actions on our website: